Indictment
Alleges That Ranes and Shine Killed Tom Cody,
Missing Since June 2005

DEC 28 --
(Anchorage, Alaska )– United States Attorney Nelson P. Cohen
announced that on December 15, 2006, a federal grand jury in Anchorage,
returned a superseding indictment against several members of a marijuana
trafficking organization that was dismantled last spring. The new indictment
alleges that Thomas Ranes, 32, and Nopenone Dennis Shine, 43, were
involved in the murder of Thomas Cody on June 1, 2005. Ranes and Shine
allegedly planned to kill Cody to remove him as leader of the conspiracy.
According to the indictment, Shine shot Cody with a 9 mm Beretta, which
was fitted with a homemade silencer, near Cody’s residence at
6621 Our Own Lane in Anchorage. The indictment alleges that Ranes then
met with Shine south of Anchorage in order to assist him. That evening,
the indictment further alleges that Ranes and Shine disposed of the
evidence of the murder in Jim Creek area in the Mat-Su Valley and burned
the vehicle that Cody had been driving, a 2004 Ford Explorer belonging
to Ranes.

The superseding
indictment charges 13 men, including two new defendants, as being members
of an international drug trafficking ring responsible for importing
and trafficking at least $10 million worth of marijuana during the
past five years. On April 22, 2006, federal and state investigators
seized approximately 347 pounds of marijuana from Ranes and Shine’s
welding and towing shop in Anchorage. The new indictment brings the
total number of defendants charged to seventeen. Four of the previously
charged defendants have pled guilty.

The new indictment
alleges that it was part of the conspiracy for the members to use violence
and firearms to maintain control of and protect the conspiracy, to
ensure the repayment of debts, and to intimidate potential competitors
or to remove members of the conspiracy. To this end, the new indictment
alleges that Cody and Murphy had arranged for other individuals to
assault and to do physical harm to a former conspirator and prospective
competitor, who was shot five times on January 10, 2003, in Anchorage.
In addition, the new indictment charges William Yancy, 42, with intimidating
Ranes at the request of Cody. Yancy and Yin Miu, 35, both residents
of Anchorage, are also alleged to be marijuana distributors in the
new indictment.

These indictments
clearly demonstrate that there is a correlation between drug trafficking
and violence – no matter the type of drug,” said DEA Special
Agent in Charge Rodney Benson. “All drugs pose a significant
threat to our communities and children, and DEA is committed to working
with our federal, state and local partners in law enforcement to target
the most violent drug trafficking organizations.”

The maximum penalties
for conspiracy to import marijuana and for conspiracy in relation to
drug trafficking are a minimum of 10 years in prison and maximum of
life in prison, a $4 million dollar fine, and at least four years of
supervised release. The advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines
provides for a sentence of life in prison in the case of a murder committed
in relation to a controlled substance offense.

This case was investigated
by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Alaska State Troopers Major
Offender’s Unit, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs
and Border Protection, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation
Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives, and the Anchorage Police Department. The Royal
Canadian Mounted Police detachments in Whitehorse and Vancouver provided
assistance.

An indictment is
only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed
innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must
prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.